One killed, eight injured following tour boat crash in Phuket, Thailand

One person was killed while eight others suffered varying degrees of injury after a speedboat crashed into rocks in the waters of Phuket province in Thailand on Sunday, December 31.

The incident occurred at around 15:00 local time on Sunday while the speedboat Apirak 89 was ferrying a group of seven Russian tourists back to Phuket following a visit to nearby Phi Phi Island.

Search and rescue teams later arrived in the area and brought the seven passengers and the two crewmembers to various hospitals.

The 42-year-old captain and a five-year-old Russian girl were both unconscious as they were being transported to hospital. Tragically, the young girl was later pronounced deceased.

On Monday, January 1, a Phuket health official told local media that the captain had tested positive for methamphetamine.

Local police have yet to file charges against the boat captain, who remains unconscious and is on life support.